[Visual pathways are affected in neurodevelopmental diseases. Review].
Endophenotypes, which are measurable components along the pathway between the clinical characteristics of a disease and the underlying biological disturbances, have attracted considerable interest in the study of complex neuropsychiatric diseases. Endophenotypes if properly characterized may help to create more accurate diagnostic systems in the future and could thereby contribute to the development of better treatment guidelines, as well. Among the many psychiatric disorders manifested in childhood or early adolescence, here I would focus on the conditions which are caused by the impaired development of the neuronal connections (impairment of the neuronal plasticity or the synaptic connections), in addition to the neurocognitive and social cognitive impairments, most of these neurodevelopmental disorders have some visual pathway impairment, primarily in the field of the magnocellular-dorsal visual pathway. Using special tasks, one could investigate even the subcortical, early cortical, and higher-level information-processing.
Kelemen
Oguz
O
Bács-Kiskun megyei Kórház, Kecskemét. kelemeno@kmk.hu
D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*